The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-09-11
A LITTLE PLAIN TALK.

So much has been said in these col
umns in favor Of the proposed sub
sidy that to make further editorial
comment would be but to repeat what
has been urged before, and, yet, at
the risk of being tiresome, it is
deemed necessary to say that the
main point in this business is to put
down on the subscription paper what
you deem right and just, to yourself,
your interest, your expectations, your
individual self, totally regardless and
entirely irrespective of what any one
else is or is not going to do. That
is not your concern. The question
with you is will it benefit you to have
a railroad here: if you think it will,
how much? if $1,000, you can afford
to take half of that thousand dollars
made for you by the railroad-after
the road is here-and put it in your
pocket-you are $500 ahead. II you
think it will benefit you $1,000 or
$4,000, half of either of these
amounts will be a good thing for
you-to make. By bringing the road
here you will make that.
The question is not "How much are
you going to giveg' 1t is "How
much are you going to maker OF
course if You expect to make nothing,
give nothing.
This is viewing the matter as a cold.
calculating, selfish scheme, apart
from any suggestion Of public spirit
or community effort.
It makes one tired to hear prop
erty owner say: II want to see how
much Smith, or Brown, or Jones is
going to give, before I put my name
down"
In the first place there is no give"
about this thing. Not a bit OF it.
No one is "giving" anything. Ii q
man puts his name down for 81 900
he hasn't got to put up cent until
the road is completed, and the loco
motive in the depot, and when that
day does come, the thousand dollars
comes out OF the resultant profits
made and produced by the fact OF the
road being here; he takes the thou
sand dollars from. larger sum that
probably he wouldn't have if the rail-
road were not here, a sum that is his
because of the building OF the rail-
road.
In the second place if you wait to
see what Smith or Jones, or the other
fellow, is going to "give," you'll wait
forever. What has that to do with iti
Are you the critic or Judge to decide
what he should dor "God helps
those that help themselves" III
Smith or Brown or Jones or the other
fellow don't know good thing when
they see it, that eughtn't to keep you
out
OF course If a man don't want TO
have q railroad here: If he is one of
the kind that takes to tall timber the
minute he sees q man coming who
may engage in the same kind OF bust
ness he is in: if he is afraid of compe-
tition and wants to keep men and
money and ideas out, and wag along
to oblivion, he will not only refuse to
do anything but will do his little best
or worst to keep anybody else from
doing anything.
The way to do thing is to do it
The way to go ahead is to embrace
offered opportunities: the way TO
make Astoria amount to something is
to take hold and not hang back to
see and wait and wonder and hope,
and end by doing nothing but twirl
thumbs and look for some capitalist
to come along. And in this we are
either right or wrong.
And now having freed our mind and
said what appears to us, it is but just
to say, that If a man doesn't feel like
subscribing; doesn't want to help,
that that is his right. There should
and need be no coaxing about this
thing. 1t is one Of the proudest priv.
ileges OF an American citizen to dc
just as he pleases, so long as he doesn't
interfere with any body else's right to
do as he or she pleases.
We have met men in the last three
days who argue that they DOM
want a railroad; that there
are things that they want, and
that the city and county want
worse than a railroad, and that till q
good many things are done, that We
all know ought to be done, they won''
do anything toward inducing q rail
road to come here.
Now, to be just, it is only fair to ad.
NIT that they have a right to thinl
that way il they want to; at the same
time regretting our inability to make
them see that putting away the pres.